The no-automated-tests thing threw me more than I expected.
Start by clarifying the problem requirements and constraints, then design a clean object-oriented model with clear responsibilities and interfaces. Implement the solution incrementally, ensuring that the output matches the provided examples exactly by paying close attention to formatting, whitespace, and line breaks.
Pro tip: Before writing any code, manually trace through the provided examples to understand the expected output format precisely, and consider writing a small test harness to compare your output against the examples character by character.
Ask questions to understand the problem scope, expected inputs/outputs, and any constraints such as performance or extensibility. Confirm the exact output format by reviewing the examples.
Identify the key entities, their responsibilities, and relationships. Define classes, interfaces, and methods that encapsulate behavior and promote modularity and reusability.
Code the solution step by step, writing unit tests for each component. Use the provided examples as test cases to verify correctness, especially the exact output formatting.
Compare your program's output against the examples character by character, ensuring whitespace, line breaks, and any other formatting details match exactly. Adjust as needed.
Explain your design choices, including any trade-offs made (e.g., simplicity vs. flexibility). Suggest how the solution could be extended or optimized for future requirements.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.